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Moeen Ali reveals why he walked away from England's World Cup celebrations

CRICKETERS Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were spotted running away from champagne sprays during England’s World Cup win celebrations, and the Birmingham-born player said they did so to stay true to their faith.

Both Ali and Rashid are practicing Muslims and consumption of alcohol not permissible in Islam.


Writing for The Guardian, Moeen said: "We respect our teammates and their desire to do this, they respect our beliefs. It’s really that simple.”

He added: "The amazing thing about our team is that guys took time out very early on to talk to us about our religion and our culture.

"They have made adjustments for us and we have for them.

"And we live in harmony."

The all-rounder added: "It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you believe in, if you can come together with a common purpose – in our case winning the World Cup – and you show courage, unity and respect (our team mantra) you can achieve anything.”

In a press conference following England’s victory, captain Eoin Morgan attributed the team’s diversity as one of their main strengths.

When asked if he enjoyed the famed luck of the Irish, Morgan said Allah was also with them.

He replied: "I spoke to Adil, he said Allah was definitely with us.

“It actually epitomises our team.

"Quite diverse backgrounds and cultures and guys grow up in different countries and to actually find humour in the situation we were in at times was pretty cool.”

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How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

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How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Highlights:

  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
  • Premium VOD revenue in the region reached £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore) last year, with 53.6 million subscriptions.
  • Netflix holds more than half of the region’s total viewing and remains its biggest investor in originals.
  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

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